Louver for flow control shutter



1966 .1. M. WHEATLEY LOUVER FOR FLOW CONTROL SHUTTER Filed Oct. 14, 1964 l/VVE/VTOI? JOHN M WHEATLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,228,313 LOUVER FGR FLGW CONTRGL SHUTTER John NI. Wheatley, 1905 W. Independence, Tulsa, fllda. Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 4%,838 2 Claims. (1. 98-110) This invention relates to a louver for a flow control shutter or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved symmetrical roll formed louver for use in a flow controlled shutter or the like, the louver characterized by its symmetry, its inherent strength and ease of manufacture. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an air flow control shutter having the improved louver of this invention.

The use of louvered flow control devices is well known in industry. Such devices consist basically of a frame supporting the multiplicity of paralleled spaced-apart louvers so positioned that in one pivoted position the louvers overlap each other to substantially close the area encompassed by the frame and in an open position the louvers are parallel to each other providing free passage of air therethrough. Such air flow control devices are used to control the amount of air passing through heat exchanging apparatus and many other industrial applications.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified louver for air flow control devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved louver for air flow control devices characterized by the provision of means whereby the overlapping louvers form a continuous two point contact therebetween to insure greater closing efiectiveness.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved louver for air flow control devices, the louver being characterized by its symmetry, its inherent strength, and its capability of being manufactured by the cold rolling process.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air flow control device having improved louvers of this invention including means whereby the louvers may be actuated either from above or below the frame without necessitating a change in the design of the louvers.

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow control device according to this invention having the improved louver utilized therein.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View of an air fiow control device according to this invention substantially as shown in FIGURE 1 showing the device adapted for use with an underslung actuating system.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the improved louver of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a top segmental view of the shutter of this invention in closed position, shown partially in crosssection, showing particularly the louver hinge pin.

This invention may be described as an improved louver for an air flow control device. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the invention may be described as a louver for a flow control shutter or the like comprising a unitary elongated member adapted for pivotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, the member defined in the plane perpendicular the longitudinal axis by curvilinear portions extending oppositely from the axis, each oppositely extending portion being 21 mirrored image of the other portion, each oppositely extending portion terminating in an integral curved, substantially perpendicular extending end portion, the oppositely extending curvilinear portions joined by an integral semicircular middle portion, the axis or" the semicircular portion being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the member, the member thereby being symmetrical in crosssection and balanced about the longitudinal axis thereof, and a hinge pin afiixed to and extending beyond the member at each end thereof, the hinge pin being received by the semicircular middle portion, the axis of the hinge pin being coincident with the axis of the semicircular portion.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1, the invention is shown as incorporated in an air flow control shutter which consists basically of the frame work having a pair of spaced-apart parallel opposed side Walls 12 (only one of which is shown in the view, each of the side walls having a multiplicity of pin receiving openings 14 therein. The frame work 1% side walls 12 and pin receiving openings 14 are standard in the art as utilized to fabricate air flow control devices.

Mounted between opposing side walls 12 is a multiplicity of spaced-apart parallel louver members, generally indicated by the numeral 16. The essence of this in vention is in the unique configuration of the louver members 15, which will be described in greater detail subsequently.

Mounted adjacent to the end of each louver is an end pin 18 which extends through opening 14 about which each of the louvers 16 is supported and rotated. The hinge pin 18 may be a long bar extending the full length of the louver 16 but in practice it has been determined that the preferred embodiment includes a short hinge pin 18 affixed, such as by welding, to the louver at each end.

At least one bracket 20 is affixed to each louver 16 to facilitate pivotation of the louver. Bracket 20 is always athxed to each louver 16 adjacent either the upper or lower edge thereof in the forward direction of rotation as the louver is moved from a closed to opened position. In FIGURE 1 the air flow control device is shown including linkage 2.2 coupling each of the louvers together.

In FIGURE 2 the air flow control device is shown as adapted for lower mounting of the brackets 20 and linkage 22. In FIGURE 1 the bracket 20 is aflixed to the upper edge of the louver 16 and in the forward direction of rotation of the louver as it is moved from closed to opened position. In FIGURE 2 the brackets 20 are each affixed to the lower edge of the louver in a forward direction of rotation as the louvers move from closed to open position.

Brackets 20 extend perpendicularly from the louvers 16 and are each connected by a linkage 22 so that the louvers are rotated simultaneously. Control devices (not shown) may be provided of a multitude of configurations for manipulation of linkage 22 for opening and closing the louvers or for positioning them at intermediate positions. Linkage 22 may be operated manually or automatically by means of various mechanical, pneumatic, or electrical actuators.

As has been previously indicated, the essence of the invention is the unique design of the louver as utilized in the flow control device of FIGURES 1 and 2. The louver is shown in the enlarged cross-sectional drawing of FIG- URE 3. Each of the louvers 16 is a unitary elongated member adapted for pivotation about the longitudinal axis thereof. The member is defined relative to the perpendicular longitudinal axis by curvilinear portions 26 extending oppositely from the longitudinal axis which, in the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3, occurs at the point 28. Each of the oppositely extending curvilinear portions 26 is a mirrored image of the other. Each of the oppositely extending curvilinear portions 26 terminates in an integral curved substantially perpendicularly extending end portion 30. The oppositely extending curvilinear portions 26 are integrally joined by a semicircular middle portion 32. The axis of the semicircular middle portion 32 is coincident with the longitudinal axis 28 of the entire louver member 16.

The hinge pin above referred to (see FIGURE 4) is aifixed to the louver, such as by welding, and is received in the semicircular curved portion 32 so that it is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 28.

The improved louver of this invention has many advantages over the known types of louvers presently available. Among the advantages are first, the louver is completely symmetrical and is therefore adapted for actuation from either above or below as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Second, the louver is inherently strong in that the curvilinear portions 26, the integral end portions 35 and the integral semicircular middle portions 32 all add rigidity to the louver. Third, the louver is easily manufactured by the cold rolling process and does not require any casting or break bending operations as in other known types of louvers. Fourth, the configuration of the end portions 30 is such that adjacent louvers contact each other at two lines of contact indicated by the numeral 34A and 34B in FIGURE 1. This provides a louver having increased efficiency to prevent a passage of air therethrough when in the closed position. Fifth, the louver is inexpensively manufactured as it can be continuously produced on a roll form machine obviating the necessity of relatively expensive casting or break forming as in other types of louvers.

An alternate embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURE 2, includes the provision of deeper side walls 12 providing a clearance space 34 below the shutters 16. A hail guard 36, typically made of expanded metal, may be placed in the clearance space 34.

While this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. An air flow control shutter comprising:

(a) a frame having a pair of spaced-apart opposed side walls having pin receiving openings therein;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced-apart paralleled louver members supported within said frame, each of the louvers of an elongated configuration of uniform thickness adapted for pivotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, each of the louvers defined in a plane perpendicular the longitudinal axis by symmetrical (1) curvilinear main portions extending oppositely from the axis, each oppositely extending portion being a mirrored image of the other portion,

(2) each oppositely extending portion terminating in an integral curved substantially perpendicularly extending end portion,

(3) the oppositely extending curvilinear portions joined by an integral semicircular middle portion, the axis of the semicircular portion being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the louvers;

(c) a hinge pin affixed to and extending beyond each louver at each end thereof, each hinge pin received. by the semicircular middle portion of the louver, the axis of the hinge pin being coincident with the axis of the semicircular portion, each hinge pin rotatably received by a said hinge pin receiving opening in one of said side walls, the louvers when in closed position overlapping each other whereby the curved substantially perpendicularly extending end portions of each louver engages the curvilinear main portions of an adjacent louver whereby each louver has two spaced lines of contact with each adjacent louver; and

((1) means linking each of said louvers for simultaneous rotation thereof.

2. An air flow control shutter according to claim 1 wherein said means linking each of said louvers includes:

at least one perpendicularly extending bracket mem ber affixed to each of said louvers adjacent one of the upper or lower edges thereof in the forward direction of rotation as the louver is moved from closed to opened position; and

a linkage member pivotally aflixed to the outer end of each of the bracket members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,006 7/1872 Crompton 98-l10 1,497,031 6/ 1924 Shurtlelf. 2,23 6,865 4/1941 Bailey 98-11O 3,145,642 8/1964 Radclifi 98-11O WILLIAM F. ODEA, Acting Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner. 

1. AN AIR FLOW CONTROL SHUTTER COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED-APART OPPOSED SIDE WALLS HAVING PIN RECEIVING OPENINGS THEREIN; (B) A MULTIPLICITY OF SPACED-APART PARALLELED LOUVER MEMBERS SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID FRAME, EAC OF THE LOUVERS OF AN ELONGATED CONFIGURATION OF UNIFORM THICKNESS ADAPTED FOR PIVOTATION ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, EACH OF THE LOUVERS DEFINED IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS BY SYMMETRICAL (1) CURVILINEAR MAIN PORTIONS EXTENDING OPPOSITELY FROM THE AXIS, EACH OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PORTION BEING A MIRRORED IMAGE OF THE OTHER PORTION, (2) EACH OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PORTION TERMINATING IN AN INTEGRAL CURVED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY EXTENDING END PORTION, (3) THE OPPOSITELY EXTENDING CURVILINEAR PORTIONS JOINED BY AN INTEGRAL SEMICIRCULAR MIDDLE PORTION, THE AXIS OF THE SEMICIRCULAR PORTION BEING 